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T O P I C R E V I E W

Robert Pearlman

Orbital Sciences Corporation release

Orbital Set to Launch Minotaur I Rocket in Support of ORS-3 Mission for the U.S. Air Force

Company's 25th Minotaur Rocket to Launch Record Number of Satellites Into Orbit

Orbital-Sponsored TJ3Sat to be First Satellite Designed and Built by High School Students

Orbital Sciences Corporation, one of the world's leading space technology companies, announced it is in final preparations for Tuesday's (Nov. 19) launch of a Minotaur I rocket in support of the Department of Defense Operationally Responsive Space Office's ORS-3 mission. The vehicle is scheduled to be launched from the Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport located at NASA's Wallops Flight Facility in eastern Virginia at approximately 7:30 p.m. EST (0030 GMT Nov. 20).

The Minotaur I space launch vehicle combines Orbital's commercial launch vehicle technologies, including upper stage rocket motors, structures, avionics and other elements, with government-supplied first- and second-stage rocket motors to create responsive, reliable and low-cost launch systems for U.S. Government-sponsored spacecraft. It can place single or multiple satellites weighing up to 1,300 lbs. into low-Earth orbit. Tuesday's mission will be the 25th Minotaur launch since the rocket's first flight in 2000.

Under the Orbital/Suborbital Program (OSP) contract, which is managed by the U.S. Air Force Space and Missile Systems Center (SMC), Space Development and Test Directorate (SMC/SD) Launch Systems Division (SMC/SDL) located at Kirtland Air Force Base, New Mexico, Orbital designs, integrates, tests and provides space launch services with the Minotaur I, IV, V and VI rockets, as well as suborbital launch capabilities with the Minotaur II and III configurations.

"We are pleased that the ORS office has chosen the Minotaur I rocket to support this important mission that will not only launch the Air Force's Space Test Program Satellite-3 and 28 CubeSats, but will also demonstrate new methods and technologies designed to reduce overall launch costs," said Mr. Ron Grabe, Orbital's Executive Vice President and General Manager of its Launch Systems Group. "We look forward to a successful launch of the ORS-3 mission and the opportunity to continue supporting the Department of Defense's important work in the area of ORS systems."

In addition to conducting launch operations, Orbital is also a sponsor of the Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology's TJ3Sat, one of the 28 CubeSats aboard the Minotaur rocket and the first satellite to be built and tested by high school students. Over the past several years, volunteers from Orbital's technical staff mentored the student team and provided engineering oversight, while the company made its space testing facilities available and provided financial support for the satellite project at the Alexandria, VA school. The TJ3Sat was assigned to the ORS-3 mission through NASA's Educational Launch of Nanosatellites (ELaNa) program based on launch manifest availability.

SpaceAholic

TJ3Sat will be the first satellite in history built by high school students when it launches Nov. 19, 2013 on an Orbital Minotaur I rocket.

TJ3Sat is joint project between the Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology and industry partners to design and build a CubeSat to increase interest in aerospace technology, as part of NASA's Educational Launch of NanoSatellites (ELaNa) program. TJ3Sat's primary mission is to provide educational resources to other K-12 education institutions to foster interest in aerospace through the successful design and flight of a CubeSat. Our mission will be successful if it provides resources to other high schools so that they may also attempt to design and construct satellites, building upon what we have learned.

Robert Pearlman

Orbital Sciences Corporation release

Orbital Successfully Launches Minotaur I Rocket Supporting ORS-3 Mission for the U.S. Air Force

Mission Is 25th Consecutive Successful Launch of Minotaur Product Line

Orbital Sciences Corporation, one of the world's leading space technology companies, announced that it successfully launched a Minotaur I rocket in support of the Department of Defense Operationally Responsive Space Office's ORS-3 mission earlier this evening. Originating from the Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport, located at NASA's Wallops Flight Facility in eastern Virginia, this mission marks the 25th launch for the Minotaur rocket, all of which have been successful, and the fifth Minotaur vehicle to be launched from the Wallops facility.

At approximately 7:30 p.m. (EST), the rocket's first stage ignited, beginning its flight into low-Earth orbit. Approximately 12 minutes after lift-off, the Air Force's Space Test Program Satellite-3 spacecraft was deployed into its intended orbit at an altitude of approximately 500 km (310 miles). The Minotaur's upper stage then executed a pre-planned collision avoidance maneuver before starting deployment of 28 CubeSats sponsored by the ORS office, the U.S. Air Force Space and Missile Systems Center's Space Test Program, and NASA's Educational Launch of Nanosatellites (ELaNa) program.

"This mission marks the final launch for Minotaur under the initial Orbital/Suborbital Program-1 and -2 contracts, culminating in the successful delivery of 74 satellites to orbit and 10 suborbital payloads to high-altitude trajectories over 25 total missions," said Mr. Ron Grabe, Orbital's Executive Vice President and General Manager of its Launch Systems Group. "Orbital's team is absolutely focused on offering the most reliable and cost-effective launch systems to our government customers for their important space missions. This dedication and teamwork with the Air Force has resulted in achieving 25 consecutive successful missions since 2000. We look forward to continuing this collaboration under the OSP-3 contract in the years ahead."

This launch, which was executed under a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) license obtained by Orbital through the FAA's Office of Commercial Space Transportation, demonstrated a commercial-like approach to government launches in an effort to reduce overall costs. Through this mission, Orbital also supported the development of new technologies for launch and range improvements including automated targeting, range tracking and flight termination systems.

The Minotaur I space launch configuration combines Orbital's commercial launch vehicle technologies, including upper stage rocket motors, avionics, structures and other elements, with government-supplied lower-stage rocket motors to create responsive, reliable and low-cost launch systems for U.S. Government-sponsored spacecraft. It can place payloads of up to 600 kg (1,300 lbs.) into low-Earth orbit.

Under the OSP program, which is managed by the Air Force Space and Missile Systems Center's Space Development and Test Directorate (SMC/SD) Launch Systems Division (SMC/SDL) located at Kirtland Air Force Base, New Mexico, Orbital designs, integrates, tests and provides space launch services with the Minotaur I, IV, V and VI rockets, as well as other suborbital capabilities with the Minotaur II and III configurations. The rockets are specifically designed to be capable of launching from all major U.S. spaceports, including government and commercial launch sites in Alaska, California, Virginia and Florida. Orbital's use of standardized avionics and subsystems, mature processes and experienced personnel make Minotaur rockets both reliable and cost-effective for U.S. government customers.

About the ORS-3 Mission

The ORS-3 mission, also known as the Enabler Mission, will demonstrate launch and range improvements to include automated vehicle trajectory targeting, range safety planning, and flight termination; employ a commercial-like procurement with FAA licensing of a Minotaur I; and launch the Air Force's Space Test Program Satellite-3 and 28 CubeSats on an Integrated Payload Stack. These enablers not only focus on the ability to execute a rapid call-up mission, they automate engineering tasks that once took months and reduce those timelines to days or hours, resulting in decreased mission costs.

Robert Pearlman

NASA video release

ORS 3 Mission Launches from Wallops

A Minotaur I rocket launched Nov. 19 from the Wallops Flight Facility on the Air Force's Operationally Responsive Space Office's ORS-3 mission. ORS-3, also known as an enabler mission, will demonstrate launch and range improvements for NASA and the military.

Aside from the primary payload — the Space Test Program Satellite-3 (STPSat-3), ORS-3 transported about 28 small cubesat satellites to space. Among the cubesats were NASA's PhoneSat2 and the first cubesat built by high school students.

Glint

Here's a view of the launch from central Maryland, 144 miles from the pad:

JBoe

Great shot! I was able to see the launch and stages from Beverly Beach in Edgewater.

Glint

You must have had a great view. Edgewater's quite a bit closer to the pad than here.

JBoe

It was a great view, great to see for my first launch!

MarylandSpace

Were there any amateur radio (ham radio) satellites launched on this flight?